US rural non-Interstate roads twice as dangerous
Traffic crashes and fatalities on rural non-Interstate roads in the United States are twice what they are on all other roads, according to a report carried out by national transportation research non-profit TRIP.
In 2020, non-Interstate rural roads had a traffic fatality rate of 2.17 deaths per 100mn vehicle miles traveled (VMT), compared to 1.09 deaths per VMT on all other roads. While rural non-Interstate roads carried 23% of all vehicle travel in 2020, they represented 38% of all traffic deaths.
According to researchers, the higher fatality rate can be attributed to rural road conditions like narrower lanes, limited shoulders, sharper curves, exposed hazards, and pavement drop-offs, Transportation Today reported.
According to the report “Rural Connections: Examining the Safety, Connectivity, Condition and Funding Needs of America’s Rural Roads & Bridges,” U.S. rural roads and bridges are facing a $180 billion backlog in funding for needed repairs and improvements.